Depressed people are likely to become disabled says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared depression as the leading cause of disability. Over 4 percent of the world's population, mostly women, youth and the elderly are battling depression.

A report from the United Nations agency indicates that cases of depression have risen to 18.4 percent in a decade, with an estimated 322 million people who suffered depressive disorders in 2015. It also shows lose of productivity due to lack of energy with 250 million people suffering with anxiety disorders such as phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive behaviour and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dr. Dan Chisholm of WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse said in a press briefing that depression is the single largest contributor to years lived with disability. “So it's the top cause of disability in the world today," he confirmed. According to Chisholm, depression is 1.5 times more common among women than men.

Eighty percent of people battling with mental health issues reside in low and middle-income countries. Chisholm explained that the said data counters the notions that these disorders are diseases of the rich or the affluent. “In fact in many countries people who are affected by poverty, unemployment, civil strife and conflict are actually at higher risk of certainly anxiety disorders and also depression," he noted.

The representative from WHO further explained that three age groups are prone to depression. These are the youth, pregnant or post-partum women, and the elderly. Chisholm said one of the leading causes of depression among teenagers is the feeling of being pressured. He pointed that the pressure on the younger generation today is perhaps like no other generation.

Pregnant women or those who have just given birth are also susceptible to depression. “Depression around that period is actually extremely common, around 15 percent of women will suffer not just “the blues”, but a diagnosable case of depression, he said. The elderly is also vulnerable. Chisholm said when a senior loses his or her partner or stops working, he becomes more subject to physical diseases and disorders.

In connection to this, Reuters has noted that WHO has laid out a campaign called "Depression: Let's Talk" to discuss the stigma and misconceptions about depression and other mental health issues. "We feel that is a key first step, that if we want to bring mental health, depression and other mental disorders out of the shadows, we need to be able to talk about it," Chisholm said.